SAINT THOMAS the A Q U I N A S CATHOLIC HIGH S C H O O L Flame A PUBLICATION OF THE STA ADVANCEMENT OFFI CE SUMMER 2012 SAV E THE DATES! STA Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary August 19, 4-7pm: Pub- Several guests spoke of lic Kickoff of their pride in being a the Capital part of St. Thomas Campaign Aquinas from its very October 5: humble beginnings to its current successes. Homecom- A reception followed ing Game in the Commons November where guests were 10: Falcon entertained by a slide- Fling show depicting images (formerly of how the school has known as the Several Dominican sisters returned from Springfield, Illinois, to help grown. Memorabilia STA celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Pictured from left are Sister Lobster Bash) displayed around the Com- Patricia Burke, Sister Judith Anne Haase, Principal Jose Becerra, Sister Teresa Marron, and Sister Virginia. mons was a big hit and in- cluded old football jerseys, the original Dominican sis- I N S I D E On February 4, 2012, the St. cheerleader and Starlette THIS ISSUE: Thomas Aquinas Regional ters from Springfield, Illinois, uniforms, old yearbooks, Catholic High School commu- who staffed the school from and photographs. Distinguished 2 1986 until Graduate nity gathered to celebrate 25 years of providing a strong 2005. Also Alumni News 4 Catholic education to high recognized school students in our region. were the Class of 2012 6 STA opened its doors on Sep- “second- tember 2, 1986 with 37 fresh- generation Fal- March for Life 9 men and today boasts nearly cons” whose 400 students. The 25th cele- parents gradu- iPad 1:1 10 bration began with a prayer ated from STA. service in the gym. Current The service Athletics 12 and past families, alumni, cur- was conducted rent and former faculty mem- by our co- Mock Crash 16 bers, founders of the school, Chaplains, Fa- and community leaders gath- thers Mark Freshman Ally Inman is joined by her parents. Ally ered in thanksgiving for our Beard and is a second-generation Falcon as her mother Kim- school. Special guests were Randy Cuevas. berly Crapanzano Inman graduated from STA in 1996. P A G E 2 Major Marc Johnson ‘95 is 2012 Distinguished Graduate Marc Johnson was selected as Freedom in 2006. He was NC. He was deployed again to the 2012 Saint Thomas Aqui- named the Distinguished Bagram AB, Afghanistan until nas High School Distinguished Graduate of Air Combat March 2010 in support of Op- Graduate. After graduating Command’s Air and Space eration Enduring Freedom. from STA in 1995, Marc at- Operation’s Center Basic Marc currently resides tended the United States Air qualification course in 2008. in Clayton, NC and is a United Force Academy in Colorado In 2008, Marc was deployed States Air Force Senior Pilot, Springs and graduated with a for 12 months to SW Asia in multi-ship flight lead with more Bachelor’s of Science Degree support of Operations Iraqi than 2,300 flight hours. He has in Management with Military and Enduring Freedom at the flown more than 600 combat Honors. Marc then underwent USAF Central Combined Air hours and 120 combat sorties training as an undergraduate and Space Operations Cen- in support of Operations Iraqi pilot and pilot instructor along ter (CAOC). He planned all and Enduring Freedom. He has with attending Fighter Funda- combat support missions for flown the T-37B, T-38A, T-38C, mentals training. From 2005 – both theaters of operation F-16D and F-15E aircrafts. Marc 2008, Marc was assigned to and served as the Executive says his experience at STA Principal Jose the 335th Fighter Squadron at Officer to the CAOC Direc- “instilled discipline, commit- Becerra congratu- Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. tor. Marc was then assigned ment and dedication to my be- lates Major Johnson He was deployed to SW Asia to the 336th Fighter Squadron liefs while solidifying the impor- tance of character, integrity and during Catholic in support of Operation Iraqi at Seymour Johnson AFB, faith in any situation.” School’s Week. Coach Gauff Chosen for All-American Championship Game In his 16 years as STA Head Basketball and 2008. In both 2009 head coach at Coach, Errol Gauff, was cho- and 2012, STA advanced to sen to be an Assistant Coach the state semi finals. Dur- STA, Coach Gauff for the 2012 All-American ing his tenure, STA has High School Championship won six district titles as has an overall Game. The game was held on well. st record of 362-190, Sunday, April 1 and was He has twice been played at the UNO Lakefront named as 2A State Coach two state Arena in conjunction with the of the Year and has been “Final Four” games. A panel named District Coach of championships, of the nation’s most respected the Year five times. He has media covering high school been a member of the Lou- two trips to the basketball serves as the selec- isiana High School Basket- semifinals and six tion committee for the All- ball Coaches Association STA’s own Coach Gauff cho- American Championship. (LHSBCA) for 14 years, four sen for All-American High district titles. Errol Gauff has been of which he served in the the head coach at St. Thomas executive office as Secretary School Game during the Fi- Aquinas for a total of 16 years. and Vice President. He has nal Four in New Orleans. He has also been an assistant also served as Coordinator coach at St. Stanislaus, Hahn- for boy’s basketball on the ville, and St. Paul’s during his LHSAA’s executive council on 19 year coaching career. He three separate occasions. has compiled an overall re- Errol is married to cord at St. Thomas Aquinas of Medria Robinet and they 362-190, while winning the have one daughter, Hailey State Championships in 2007 Elizabeth. A PUBLICATION OF THE STA ADVANCEMENT OFF ICE P A G E 3 Grandparents’ Day sets attendance record Freshmen Grace year’s breakfast. and Bobbi Amar Grandparent’s visit with their enjoyed visiting grandmother, Mrs. with their grand- Margaret Ann children and Amar. friends and were entertained by the over the years as well STA Choir and as in popularity. Glee Club. Each Grandparents’ Day grandparent re- The always popular Grandparents’ had traditionally been ceived an STA Day breakfast was held this year held in the Commons but was coffee travel mug during Catholic School’s Week on moved to the gym in 2010 due and several prizes Senior Brandon Cancienne and his February 1. This event is one that to the growth in numbers. were raffled also. grandmother Lucille Traylor enjoy has continued growing in number More than 500 attended this breakfast. STA celebrates National Counseling Week National School Counseling Week was celebrated in February to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors and how they positively impact their students. The week highlights the tremen- dous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. At STA, Counseling Week was recognized in many ways, including a suicide prevention training program called “Teen Life Counts”, campus visits from colleges and universities, faculty and staff appre- ciation, and more. Additionally, the Counseling department has implemented parent and student meetings geared to each class and their specific challenges. Information regarding college preparation, career and college goals, and Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster proclaims answers to the high school journey are all addressed. National Counseling Week with STA counsel- ors Meagan Candiotto ‘05 and Ashley Arnone Brady ‘97. Mother Seton honoree is Veronica Bonfiglio Congratulations to Veronica Bon- husband, Mark, have three sons: Jonathan, figlio who has been selected as STA’s 2012 Class of 2004; Joshua, Class of 2008; and Mother Seton recipient. The Mother Seton Jordan, Class of 2012. Veronica has been a Award was created to honor those indi- dedicated volunteer for the Falcon Soccer viduals whose volunteer service and dedi- team and has served as the annual Lobster cation to home, school, and church have Bash’s decoration chairperson. been exemplary. Mother Seton recipients Veronica said, “Some of my and have strong Catholic values and a selfless my families happiest times in the past 12 dedication to Catholic schools. years have been at the STA Soccer Field. I Bishop Muench and Superintendent of Veronica has been an STA parent truly appreciate STA, Coach Cox, and all Schools Melanie Verges congratulate and member of the Home and School As- of the players and parents for being such a Mother Seton recipient Veronica Bon- sociation since 2000. Veronica and her blessing in my life.” figlio. P A G E 4 Inaugural Alumni Crawfish Boil-off The Falcon Alumni Association our campus and reconnect proudly hosted the inaugural with their school,” said Alumni Crawfish Boil-off during AlumniDirector Errol Easter weekend. More than a hun- Gauff. “I am looking for- dred alumni and their families ward to many more events Reese Whitaker, daughter of Lindsay Taylor Whitaker ‘00, and Zoe Jackson, gathered for the camaraderie. Six such as this for our alumni. daughter of Shelby Brignac ‘10 and teams competed in the crawfish As I told our graduating Zay Jackson ‘11 are future Falcons! boiling contest. Competition was seniors, this is your home. fierce and dirty, Louisiana style! Come home sometimes to First place honors went to the visit. Let us know how you team of Matt ‘92 and Jared Lyons are!” ‘96. Will Johnson ‘95 and his team In addition to the garnered second place honors, awards for the Boil-off, the Brandt Meyer ’01 su- and the third place paddle belongs afternoon ended with an pervises one of the crawfish pots for his to Trey Tantillo ‘02.